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anna_shortybg

hiring an immigration lawyer neccesary?

By anna_shortybg in Bringing Family Members of US Citizens to America

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anna_shortybg Apprentice

anna_shortybg   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Mexico
 Timeline
Posted

Hello everyone!

This a question i bet. Comes in mind to all of us! So is it really necessary?? I filed the i 130 MYSELF! And received the

Notice of action a couple days later. I just don't wanna get lost along the way. But i am confident! Since i already have past experience with some immigration forms from when i filed my daughter'S CRBA( child report of abroad) i had her Mexico in 2010. Went to the US EMBASSY IN MONTERREY. Did all the paper work. Received her crba certificate and us passport in the mail 2months!!

If you can answer my Q. Greatly appreciate itz!

Penguin_ie Grand Master

Penguin_ie   5,996

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ireland
 Timeline
Posted

That totally depends on you. Visajourney is a DIY site, so most people here will not use a lawyer, or come here after a bad experience with one. Most easy cases do not require a lawyer, and they can slow things down, but they can be useful if your case has red flags, previous overstays or a criminal background, or also if you are just really bad at filling out detailed forms.

Bye: Penguin

Me: Irish/ Swiss citizen, and now naturalised US citizen. Husband: USC; twin babies born Feb 08 in Ireland and a daughter in Feb 2010 in Arkansas who are all joint Irish/ USC. Did DCF (IR1) in 6 weeks via the Dublin, Ireland embassy and now living in Arkansas.

mod penguin.jpg

Boggy1974 Proficient

Boggy1974   124

Posted
Filed: Timeline
Posted

Your experience & success with your daughter's CRBA proves you possess the attention-to-detail aptitude needed to fill out government forms and following rules.

I don't see why you can't do this yourself without a lawyer, unless of course this case has serious red flags.

Iron Sharpen Iron!

anna_shortybg Apprentice

anna_shortybg   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Mexico
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

Well thank u for your answers. I will take that into consideration. I'm really good when it comes to doing research. My case doesn't have any red flags. . Most of the people i know who done this process within my family, did hire a lawyer, reason was not very good with the English grammar, and they're spouse was inside US illegally.

matthewmaria Apprentice

matthewmaria   3

Posted
Filed: IR-2 Country: Mexico
 Timeline
Posted

Just my thoughts since I saw you're apply for pretty much same visa I am and for the same country. Standard rate here in DC area is $1500. $500 payable on first starting, second was due when case went to NVC, third when they are here. The paperwork I found afterwards I do could for myself. Thing that i found invaluable was that they are available for all kinds of questions. There were alot of times I wasn't sure, especially when dealing with the length of time and RFE after the intial 5 months (CSC).

Granted, I still had to do some follow up on my own, especially around time it went to NSC. I had to call HOM Sec to push them on the document, found out it was done. Then after the AOS bill was sent, NVC said they sent it, but lawyer didn't get it. So either way it's good to stay tuned in.

However even though i use a lawyer, VJ is an invaluable resource. Without question.

Collie Proficient

Collie   122

Posted
Filed: IR-5 Country: United Kingdom
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

I guess its up to the individual. Regardless of hiring an immigration attorney, you are the one who still has to put all the donkey work into filling out forms and finding all your financial documents for the affidavit of support section. My husband and I hired an immigration attorney for the initial greencard for me when I first came to the USA 8 years ago. At that time, we were overwhelmed and didn't have a clue and forked out the $2500 without a second thought. Through experience and through the (mostly) helpful folks on VJ, we have since done all the immigration forms ourselves and are doing the same for bringing my parents over here.

Good luck in your journey :)

Edited by Collie

I-130 for both parents

March 28th 2013 - Priority date/ NOA 1
November 14th 2013 - Transferred to Nebraska Service Center

January 7th 2014 - Case changed online to approved for both

January 8th 2014 - case changed to shipped to NVC

January 9th 2014 - case changed to NOA 2 mailed

January 10th 2014 - Received the hardcopy of the NOA 2 stating that NVC would issue a case number in 30 days approx.

January 21st 2014 - Case Received at NVC

February 26th 2014 - Case numbers and IIN number received - Wrong embassy code assigned...now waiting for new case numbers.

March 3rd 2014 - Filled in DS-261 for both parents

March 5th 2014- AOS available, paid and submitted AOS packet.

March 6th 2014 - USPS shows packet was delivered at NVC

March 10th 2014 - AOS shows as paid in the CEAC portal/AOS logged into system as being received by NVC.

March 11th 2014 - New case number assigned for my Dad.

March 20th 2014 - Paid IV fee for my Mum.

March 25th 2014 - AOS accepted by NVC with no checklist.

March 26th 2014 - Filled in and submitted DS-260 for my Mum

March 31st 2014 - AOS found in my Mum's file for my Dad - accepted and placed into his file/IV fee available for my Dad and Paid.

April 1st - Mailed all civil documents to NVC for both parents.

April 3rd: IV fee shows as paid in portal/submitted DS-260 for my Dad.

April 22nd: checklist issued for civil documents - NVC error ...

April 23rd: sent another certified copy of my marriage certificate

April 24th: Case complete! :)

April 30th 2014 - Medical scheduled for parents at Knightsbridge in London

June 11th: Interview at London Embassy - Approved :)

Boiler Grand Master

Boiler   46,128

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
 Timeline
Posted

Will your parents be working.

I ask because whenever this is mentioned the issue of Heath sic Care comes up, there seems no good answer. Well none I have yet to come across.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

Collie Proficient

Collie   122

Posted
Filed: IR-5 Country: United Kingdom
 Timeline
Posted

Will your parents be working.

I ask because whenever this is mentioned the issue of Heath sic Care comes up, there seems no good answer. Well none I have yet to come across.

I think that healthcare is the biggest obstacle for immigrating parents to have to encounter. Yes, both parents plan to work. We priced insurance policies and the cheapest that I could find with a decent plan/deductible was approx $700-$800 monthly for them both. It is much more beneficial for them to be working.

I-130 for both parents

March 28th 2013 - Priority date/ NOA 1
November 14th 2013 - Transferred to Nebraska Service Center

January 7th 2014 - Case changed online to approved for both

January 8th 2014 - case changed to shipped to NVC

January 9th 2014 - case changed to NOA 2 mailed

January 10th 2014 - Received the hardcopy of the NOA 2 stating that NVC would issue a case number in 30 days approx.

January 21st 2014 - Case Received at NVC

February 26th 2014 - Case numbers and IIN number received - Wrong embassy code assigned...now waiting for new case numbers.

March 3rd 2014 - Filled in DS-261 for both parents

March 5th 2014- AOS available, paid and submitted AOS packet.

March 6th 2014 - USPS shows packet was delivered at NVC

March 10th 2014 - AOS shows as paid in the CEAC portal/AOS logged into system as being received by NVC.

March 11th 2014 - New case number assigned for my Dad.

March 20th 2014 - Paid IV fee for my Mum.

March 25th 2014 - AOS accepted by NVC with no checklist.

March 26th 2014 - Filled in and submitted DS-260 for my Mum

March 31st 2014 - AOS found in my Mum's file for my Dad - accepted and placed into his file/IV fee available for my Dad and Paid.

April 1st - Mailed all civil documents to NVC for both parents.

April 3rd: IV fee shows as paid in portal/submitted DS-260 for my Dad.

April 22nd: checklist issued for civil documents - NVC error ...

April 23rd: sent another certified copy of my marriage certificate

April 24th: Case complete! :)

April 30th 2014 - Medical scheduled for parents at Knightsbridge in London

June 11th: Interview at London Embassy - Approved :)

Boiler Grand Master

Boiler   46,128

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
 Timeline
Posted

You will be amazed how many people address this issue after moving. A job with insurance would be ebst but that is getting harder and harder to find.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

 
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